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Sport FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2020 15 Buzz missing but IPL aims to lose 4 players after positive bring normality amid pandemic REUTERS - REUTERS - some notable absentees at this year’s Four Yorkshire players, After months of uncertainty due event. including , will to the COVID-19 pandemic, the The English duo of miss their two remaining delayed season of the popular and Vitality Blast group matches will kick , after the all-rounder off in the pace spearhead Lasith tested positive for COVID-19. tomorrow with a clash between Malinga and the Indian Yorkshire said in a defending champions pair of statement on Wednesday that Indians and Super and Matthew Fisher, Tom Kohler- Kings. have all pulled out of Cadmore, Josh Poysden and The 2020 edition of the the tournament citing Willey had been advised to world’s richest personal reasons. self-isolate for two weeks after league was originally scheduled The - a positive test was received to begin on March 29 in led , within the squad. but had to be postponed indef- bio-secure bubbles in , their television sets,” former against Chinese companies in who beat Chennai by one Willey later confirmed he initely by the country’s cricket Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in front India Ganguly said. India and a weak business envi- in last year’s final to win their had tested positive. board (BCCI) due to worsening of empty stands but organisers “There is a positive in ronment following the pan- fourth title in seven years, once “My wife and I received situation of the pandemic. are hoping to allow some fans everything.” demic, smartphone maker Vivo again look the team to beat with positive COVID test results. IPL’s cancellation would during the later stages of the It will not be the first time pulled out of this year’s edition. a balanced squad. Gutted to be missing the have meant a potential $534m tournament, which will end on that the competition has had to Fantasy gaming company Chennai, led my their char- remaining games,” the loss in revenue, leading the Nov. 10. be held outside India. Dream11 came in as a ismatic captain Mahendra Singh 30-year-old wrote on Twitter. board to shift the tournament While it will be impossible The 2009 edition took place replacement, paying the league Dhoni, will have to find a way “Even more devastated out of India, which is the world’s to create the usual carnival-like in as it coincided 50% less than Vivo, which had to compensate for the absence that having been in contact second-worst affected country atmosphere in the stands, BCCI with India’s general elections secured the 2018-2022 rights of experienced Raina and Har- with the other three lads Sat- with 5 million cases of chief felt and the UAE hosted the early for nearly $293m. bhajan if they are to win a urday morning (before we had coronavirus infections. organising the event was an matches of the eight-team tour- “When you encounter such fourth title and match Mumbai symptoms) means they’re at The postponement of this attempt to bring normality to nament five years later for the challenging times and the tour- as the most successful side in risk and unavailable too.” year’s Twenty20 World Cup in people’s life in India, which has same reason. nament faced such impedi- the IPL. The four players missed because of the pan- been battered by the virus. But finding a host country ments, you are bound to lose on Captained by India skipper Yorkshire’s 43-run defeat by demic also helped. It presented “Crowds will watch it on tel- was not the only challenge in certain revenues,” BCCI , Royal Challengers Durham on Wednesday and a window in the international evision... they (broadcasters) are organising the IPL for the pow- treasurer Arun Dhumal said. remain one of the will sit out games against Lan- cricket calendar for the eight- actually expecting the highest erful Indian board as the tour- “Looking at the overall three existing franchises never cashire (played yesterday) and team league, which is attended rating of IPL this season nament lost its title sponsor a picture, one should be happy to have won the tournament but Derbyshire on Sunday. by most of the world’s top because they believe if (people) month before its scheduled that at least something is hap- seem to have their addressed Yorkshire are fifth in the players. don’t turn up in the ground, they start. pening in this environment.” woes to complement North Group with six points The matches will be held in will be actually watching on Amid a growing backlash There will, however, be strength. from eight matches.

IPL SCHEDULE Skipper Sharma (FIRST FIVE MATCHES) says Mumbai IPL 2020 season QATAR TIME 1: September 19 in good spirits Mumbai Indians (MI) Vs Chennai DUBAI DUBAI: Factbox on the 13th Indian Premier League, which will Super Kings (CSK) in Abu Dhabi AFP - take place in the United Arab Emirates deu to the COVID-19 5:00 PM pandemic and runs from Sept. 19 to Nov. 10 (teams ranked in 2: September 20 Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit order of last year’s finish): Sharma said yesterday that the Capitals (DC) Vs Kings XI IPL’s coronavirus bio-security MUMBAI INDIANS Punjab (KXIP) in Dubai 6:30 PM bubble was “mentally tough”, Last year: Champions 3: September 21 but the team was finding ways Best finish: Champions (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019) Sun Risers (SRH) Vs to stimulate players and keep Captain: Rohit Sharma Royal Challengers Bangalore in good spirits. Coach: (Fourth year) (RCB) in Dubai 6:30 PM The virus-delayed Marquee players: , Rohit Sharma, Quinton de 4: September 22 Twenty20 tournament begins Kock, , , , Kieron (RR) Vs tomorrow in the United Arab Pollard, , , Nathan Coulter-Nile, (CSK) Emirates, with holders , , , Mitchell Sharjah 6:30 PM Mumbai playing the Chennai McClenaghan, . 5: September 23 Super Kings in the opener in CHENNAI SUPER KINGS Abu Dhabi. Australia’s and pose with the trophy Knight Riders (KKR) Vs Last year: Runners-up Teams in the world’s after winning the match and the series against England at Old Mumbai Indians (MI) Abu Dhabi Best finish: Champions (2010, 2011, 2018) richest cricket competition Trafford, Manchester, on Wednesday night. 6:30 PM Captain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni must abide by strict guidelines, Coach: (10th year) leaving them encased in an Marquee players: , , Murali isolation “bubble” with only Vijay, , Dwyane Bravo, , Shane Marauding Maxwell breaks new hotel staff, their fellow com- Watson, , Mahendra Singh Dhoni, , petitors, and their similarly , , , . quarantined family. ground after mental health battle “Mentally it is tough, but Last year: Third hats off to the team man- Best finish: Third (2009, 2012, 2019) agement,” Sharma said. Captain: REUTERS - faced, 92 fewer than his nearest He was recalled to the Aus- “In our hotel, they have Coach: (Third year) rival, England’s . tralia squad for the white-ball created some amazing space Marquee players: Shreyas Iyer, , Prithvi Less than a year after with- “Everything pretty much tour of South Africa in February around where we can just Shaw, , , , Marcus drawing from cricket to tackle went to plan tonight, the way but had to withdraw to have chill, spend time with your Stoinis, , Alex Carey, , Kagiso mental health issues, master our built was out- elbow surgery. family and relax. Rabada, , . blaster Glenn Maxwell has standing,” said Maxwell. The COVID-19 pandemic “We have been here for reached a higher plain in the “I feel like I’ve always then intervened, further almost three weeks and have Last year: Fourth one-day format while helping batted better for Australia when delaying his return. been in good spirits. Now it’s Best finish: Champions (2016) Australia turn the tables on we’ve been in a bit of trouble.” The prolonged lockdown in all about preparation and Captain: world champions England. Maxwell has always been a state, which has borne getting into that game phase Coach: (First year) Maxwell’s 108 in a brilliant man in a hurry, often sacrificing the brunt of Australia’s mode.” Marquee players: David Warner, , Kane 212-run partnership with Alex his in a mad dash for COVID-19 infections, proved an The T20 league will be Williamson, Vijay Shankar, , , Priyam Carey drove Australia to a middle order runs, but he had unlikely blessing for Maxwell, played behind closed doors at Garg, , , , three-wicket win in Manchester to be patient to seize his latest drawing him closer to short three UAE venues, including , , , Shahbaz on Wednesday and a 2-1 series chance after a rollercoaster format skipper and fellow Vic- Dubai and Sharjah. Nadeem. victory. year littered with setbacks. torian . Mumbai -- winners of a While Australia avenged The tour of England was the The only Victorians in the record four IPL titles -- are Last year: Fifth their 5-0 humiliation in Melbourne man’s first taste of Australia squad, the pair had favourites to win this 13th Best finish: Champions (2012, 2014) England two years ago, the international cricket since he little else to do but train edition, but Sharma said Captain: hosts lost their first one-day abruptly withdrew from the together and talk cricket. adapting to the foreign condi- Coach: Brendon McCullum (First year) series at home since 2015 and home Twenty20 series against “I just had so much clarity tions would be crucial to their Marquee players: , , Shubman their first anywhere since India Sri Lanka last October while of what (Finch) expected of me success. Gill, , , , Dinesh Karthik, in January 2017. struggling with mental health. in that role,” Maxwell said after “Not a lot of cricketers , , , Varun For Maxwell, who scored 77 After a nearly two-month the game on Wednesday. from our group have played Chakravarthy, , . in the opener, his knock on break, Maxwell returned in the “I think I was able to take here,” the star batsman said. KINGS XI PUNJAB Wednesday not only assured domestic Big Bash League, the game on, with the clarity he He reckoned the team’s Last year: Sixth him of the man-of-the-series declaring he had “no demons” gave me before the tournament, spinners -- including Krunal Best finish: Runners-up (2014) award but also made him the in his head in January after and was able to ride on that Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Captain: KL Rahul fastest man to score 3,000 ODI hammering an unbeaten 83 to momentum as well. Yadav, and Prince Coach: (First year) runs. lead the to “Just knowing I had the Balwant Rai -- would have an Marquee players: , , Mayank The all-rounder reached the victory over the cross-town backing of him is awesome,” advantage on the slow Arab Agarwal, , Glenn Maxwell, KL Rahul, Nicholas milestone on his 2,440th ball Renegades. Maxwell said. . Pooran, , , , , . RAJASTHAN ROYALS ECB’s bio-secure bubbles 'a blueprint for others' Last year: Seventh Best finish: Champions (2008) REUTERS - LONDON and Manchester before matches around the world will look at. Captain: across all three formats against Whether they can model it Coach: Andrew McDonald (First year) The England and Wales Cricket Ireland, and exactly like that might be a bit Marquee players: Steve Smith, , Robin Board’s successful completion Australia. more challenging but I think the Uthappa, , , Jos Buttler, , of their summer schedule inside “From where we were five ECB has done an outstanding , , , . bio-secure ‘bubbles’ is a blue- months ago to have had a full job.” Morgan told the BBC that ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE print for other countries to stage set of international fixtures and the health and wellbeing of eve- Last year: Eighth matches amid the COVID-19 to have cricket back on the TV ryone involved had been at the Best finish: Runners-up (2009, 2011, 2016) pandemic, one-day interna- is huge for the game,” Morgan forefront of their thinking Captain: Virat Kohli tional (ODI) skipper Eoin told reporters. before a ball was . Coach: (First year) Morgan (pictured) said. “I think we’ve pioneered “If there was another Marquee players: Virat Kohli, Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers, England returned to action and mapped out exactly how to summer of a bio-secure bubble , , , , , following the COVID-19 get cricket back on. Given we’ve we would probably have to look , , , Yuzv- stoppage in July with three Tests had no positive cases within the at guys spending more time endra Chahal, . against the West Indies in bio- bubble I think it’s a very good outside of it or families being secure venues at example and one every team allowed to come in,” he added. Sport

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2020 England'sEng bio-secure bubbles a blueprint for others,oth says one-day captain Eoin Morgan I tthinkhin we've pioneered and mapped out exactly how to get criccricketk back on. Given we've had no positive cases within the bubblebubb I think it's a very good example and one every team aaroundrou the world will look at. EoinE Morgan Sport | 15 EEngland captain TOUR DE FRANCE (OVERALL LEADER) Primoz Roglic (SLO) (79hr 45min 30sec). Stage 18 Winner: M. Kwiatkowski (4hr 47min 33sec)

Bale leaves Al Sadd target win over Al Ain; underwhelming Madrid legacy Al Duhail look for repeat show despite haul of

FAWAD HUSSAIN THE PENINSULA goals, trophies

Qatar football giants Al Sadd and Al REUTERS — MADRID Duhail will be seeking victories as they return to action today in their respective As Gareth Bale prepares to return legs at the AFC Champions League return to Tottenham Hotspur group stage. after seven silverware-laden Al Sadd will take on UAE’s Al Ain, years at Real Madrid, in the against whom they played a thrilling 3-3 Spanish capital there is an over- draw on their home turf, while reigning whelming sense of disap- QNB Stars League champions Al Duhail pointment rather than gratitude will square off with Sharjah, hoping to over his legacy. score second consecutive win over the- Bale scored vital strikes in UAE's side. Champions League finals against Xavi Hernandez-coached Al Sadd Atletico Madrid and Liverpool dropped two points due to a draw on plus a career-defining Copa del Tuesday, but they are still placed well to Rey final winner against eternal advance to the Round of 16. The Wolves rivals Barcelona amongst 105 are second with 5 points behind Saudi goals and 68 assists in 251 games. Arabia’s Al Nassr (7 points) in Group D. Al Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez (right) and Al Sadd midfielder Guillerme But as his departure edges A win today could put them within a Torres attend a pre-match press conference, yesterday. closer, the media and fans are point of the knockout stage with two focusing on his eye-watering games still to play, should Al Nassr repeat salary of $35.39m per year, his their win over Sepahan later tonight. Al Duhail coach Walid Regragui said injury record plus an apparent “We need three points to go to the We are in a crucial phase now. Sharjah will pose a big challenge to his wavering attitude rather than his next stage. We are in a crucial phase now. We played well in the last game side to stay alive in event. often brilliant performances on We played well in the last game but we but we need to finish off the “The match is going to be difficult as YESTERDAY’S RESULTS the pitch. need to finish off the chances in front of chances in front of goal, and not Sharjah need wins to advance. We will GROUP A ‘Bale cost Madrid 23,800 goal, and not make mistakes that lead to make mistakes that lead to give our best to win the match,” Regragui Al Shorta (IRQ) 2 -1 Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) euros per minute,’ ran the conceding goals,” Xavi told a pre-match conceding goals: Xavi said yesterday before confirming Mun- GROUP B headline of a report in Spanish press conference yesterday. tari’s return. Shahr Khodro FC (IRN) 0 - 1 Shabab Al Ahli sports newspaper AS yesterday, “We have a huge desire to win. I enjoy “Mohamed Muntari will be available, Dubai (UAE) adding: ‘Gareth Bale cost 101 this sort of pressure that’s on the team but we will wait for Karim Boudiaf and Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 - 0 Al Hilal SFC (KSA) million euros and has left a small and the players like it as well,” he added. At the Education City Stadium today, Edmilson to recover completely,” he TODAY’S FIXTURES collection of key goals, a long Al Ain FC coach Pedro Emanuel, Al Duhail will be eyeing their second con- said. medical history and more non- GROUP C (At Education City Stadium) whose team earned their first point in the secutive victory against Sharjah following Sharjah midfielder Khalid Bawazir sporting controversies than Real event on Tuesday, hoped his team will their 2-1 victory on Tuesday. said his team played well in the previous Sharjah (UAE) vs Al Duhail SC (QAT) - 18:00 Madrid would have liked.’ keep their chances alive for the next stage. The Red Knights, who will see game, hoping to bounce back from defeat. Al Taawoun FC (KSA) vs Persepolis FC (IRN) Common themes among “Expectations are much higher after Mohammed Muntari’s return from injury, “We got a negative result against Al - 21:00 Bale’s critics are that he did not the first game, but we have to be realistic are second in Group C with 6 points, with Duhail, but we hope to have benefited GROUP D (At Jassim Bin Hamad show the same commitment to and acknowledge the fact that our Al Taawoun leading the group on goal from our mistakes and that we can make Stadium) the club as for Wales and that he chances of progression are slim. None- difference. Iran’s Persepolis (four points) amends and get a better result against Al Al Sadd SC (QAT) vs Al Ain FC (UAE) - 18:00 did not aspire to be the team’s theless, we will keep fighting till the end,” and Sharjah (one point) are third and Duhail to qualify to the next round,” he Al Nassr (KSA) vs Sepahan FC (IRN) - 21:00 leader after Cristiano Ronaldo said Emanuel. fourth respectively. said. left in 2018. A naturally shy character who rarely gave interviews or spoke Spanish in public, Bale Iraq's Al Shorta clinch historic win in Doha never ingratiated himself to Madrid supporters, who have idolised larger-than-life figures THEAFC.COM — DOHA Khalifa International Stadium, making his was past two Al Abdulamir nearly got one Shabab Al Ahli Dubai a second such as the late Juanito and it was Al Shorta who struck first Shorta defenders before against his former club, but the consecutive 1-0 win overover current captaincaptain Sergio Ramos.Ramos. Iraq’s Al Shorta recorded their as centre-back Saad Natiq drilling one into the bottom skipper watched his thun- Shahr Khodro FC in Groupup B, first-ever AFC Champions escaped his marker and met Ali right corner of Basil’s goal to derous effort from 30 yards out yesterday. League win, defeating Al Ahli Fayez’s out-swinging cross bring the scores level in the punched away by Al Owais five The two sides wentt Saudi FC 2-1 at the 2020 AFC from the corner with a pow- 56th minute. minutes from time as the Iraqis head to head again Champions League Group A erful header that left goal- Coach Abdulghani Shahd’s secured their 2-1 win at the after they had faced yesterday. keeper Mohammed Al Owais men regrouped and within final whistle. each other on Monday Al Ahli had already qual- helpless in the 14th minute. eight minutes they had restored The result means Al Shorta in a match that was Gareth ified to the Round of 16 going Coach Vladan Milojevic’s their lead. move ahead of Esteghlal and decided by a piece of indi-di- BaleBale into Matchday Four, but words at the break seemed to Kudhur Ali advanced down into second place with four vidual brilliance fromom needed a point to secure the have worked magic as Al Ahli the right wing and sent a low points. A draw against the youngster Hareb Abdalla.a. top spot in the group, while for came racing out of the blocks cross for Mazin Fayyadh who Islamic Republic of Iran side The result sees debu-u- Al Shorta, beating Al Ahli would after the restart. Al Shorta’s kept his composure to beat Al on Sunday will be enough for tants Shahr Khodro elimi-mi- mean they would need just one defences finally yielded to Al Owais at his near post and Shahd’s men to secure passage nated from the AFC Cham-am- point against Esteghlal in Ahli’s sustained pressure as make it 2-1 before the midway to the knockout stages for the pions League having yet toto get Matchday Five to progress. Mohammed Al Majhad col- point of the second half. first time in their history. a point or score a goal, whilewhile After a lively start from lected Marin’s sublime pass on Al Shorta controlled the Meanwhile, a late goal from Shabab Al Ahli are sittinging in both side at Doha’s iconic the left flank, cut inside, rest of the proceedings and Pedro Conde gave third place with six points.nts. Tour de France: Roglic retains lead as Kwiatkowski wins Stage 18 AFP — LA ROCHE-SUR-FORON, picking up climb points to take we changed our objectives,” FRANCE I had the best legs ever, the polka dot jersey. Kwiatkowski said fighting back the way we rode together Carapaz was drafted into tears. In the race for the overall Primoz Roglic retained his lead the race at the last minute as standings only Saturday’s indi- on compatriot Tadej Pogacar with Richard was just Geraint Thomas was farmed vidual time trial presents a atop the Tour de France incredible: out to the Giro, but he fell on chance for the second-placed standings after Stage 18 as Michal Kwiatkowski stage one in the deluge in Nice Pogacar to stage a coup. British outfit Ineos claimed a and is only finding his full Roglic leads Pogacar by 57 one-two finish yesterday. form now. seconds with today’s stage 19 Bedevilled by problems that Carapaz and Kwiatkowski and the culminating run up the saw them withdraw their captain a former world champion. were clearly brimming with joy Champs-Elysees on Sunday Egan Bernal on Wednesday, “When Egan left the race he over the fruits of their part- both set to be decided in a mass Team Ineos team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski was very sad but wished us well, nership, which will have bunch sprint. rider Poland’s won the stage as Richard Carapaz and now we have this won- brought some relief for Ineos Roglic once again looked at Michal took the King of the Mountains derful day,” he said. “That’s the team principal Dave Brailsford, ease during the run over three Kwiatkowski jersey with the pair crossing the Tour de France,” he beamed. who had to pull out his protege major mountains. “I managed finish line three minutes ahead Giro d’Italia champion Bernal to protect him. to relax, everything went fine, (right) of the elite pack. Carapaz has been a revelation “Adapting quickly to change another good day for us,” Roglic celebrates as “I had the best legs ever, the over the three Alpine stages that is one of the main keys of said, as he grows into the role he crosses way we rode together with culminated with the Ineos-led success,” Brailsford said ahead of leader which seemed to the finish line, Richard was just incredible,” escape here as the Ecuadorian of the Tour in Nice. weigh on him when he took the yesterday. said Ineos’s Polish rider who is has relentlessly attacked, “We worked so hard since lead in the first week.